Automatic window cleaning device



June 14, 1960 H. M. NEAL AUTOMATIC WINDOW CLEANING DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. /arod'/Z W61?, i Afro/Mfrs June 14, 1960 H. M. NEAL AUTOMATIC WINDOW CLEANING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 6, 1957 INVENTOR.

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June 14, 1960 H. M. NEAL 2,940,110

AUTOMATIC WINDOW CLEANING DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

United States Patent O AUTOMATIC WINDOW CLEANING DEVICE Harold M. Neal, 7054 Kelly St., Apt. 23, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Filed Dec. 6, 1957, Ser. No. 701,148

v Claims. (Cl. 15s-250.4)

This invention relates to window cleaning devices, and more particularly has reference to a power driven window cleaner, which will be designed for initiating and carrying to its conclusion a multi-stage, mechanical window-cleaning operation, responsive merely to the depression of a push button.

The advantages of a window cleaning device that will have the characteristics described above may be readily noted. The cleaning of windows is a comparatively expensive proposition, in various commercial enterpises in which there is a large number of Windows to be cleaned. Large oiiice buildings, for example, fall within this category, as do many factories, institutions, etc. Even in the home, the cleaning of windows is a disagreeable and didicult task, and accordingly, many home owners have utilized commercial window cleaning enterprises to clean the windows of their homes.

In view of the above, it is proposed to provide au automatic window cleaning device which will clean a window efficiently and swiftly, whenever desired, merely by operation of a bush button. Thus, after the initial expense of installation of the device, further expenses in connection with the cleaning of windows, involving the use of labor, are dispensed with so that in a comparatively short time, the device in effect pays for itself.

Other object will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a window, showing fragmentarily a portion of a building in which the window is mounted, said window being equipped with a window cleaning device according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical, transverse section through the window, taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure l, portions being broken away;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view at right angles to the cutting plane of Figure 2, on the same scale as Figure `2, portions being broken away, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse, vertical section on the same scale as Figure 2, taken substantially on line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical, transverse sectional view, on the same scale as Figure 2, taken substantially on line 5 5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a horizontal section, on the same scale as Figure 2, taken substantially on line 6 6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view, on they same scale as Figure 2, taken substantially on line 7--7 of Figure 2, showing the water distribution manifold assembly',

Figures 8 and 9 are fragmentary sectional views, taken on the same cutting plane as Figure 2, showing in Figure 8 a swingable closure plate in a fully open position, as distinguished from Figure 2 in which said closure plate is in fully closed position, and showing in Figure 9 said closure plate in a partially closed position;

2,940,110 Patented June 14, 1960 ICC Figure 10 is a detail sectional view substantially on line ith-10 of Figure 8, showing the latch means for releasably holding the closure plate in open position;

Figure 1l is an elevational view of a fan incorporated in the construction for drying o excess water from the glass;

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view through the water supply control valve;

Figure 13 is a somewhat diagrammatic showing of the wiring connections embodied in the invention; and

Figure 14 is a sectional view through a switch incorporated in the schematic showing of Figure 13, the switch being shown in its closed position as distinguished from Figure 13 wherein the siwtch is in open position.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the window incorporating the invention has been generally designated 20 and as shown in Figure l, to the casual viewer shows no indication of the window cleaning mechanism thereof. Referring to Figure 6, the window is mounted in a window opening 22 of a building wall 24. The invention includes vertical outer frame members 28, 30, at opposite sides of the window, tixedly mounted in positions extending transversely of and within the hollow interior of the building wall. Fixedly connected between the outer frame members 39 are a lower, horizontal support plate or sill 32, and a horizontal lintel or header 34.

Extending vertically between the sill 32 and the header 34, in planes parallel to those of the frame members 28, 30 are inner frame members or jambs 36, 36, disposed in closely spaced relation to the outer frame members 28, 30 so as to define at opposite sides of the window vertically extending cavities or chambers, for belt and pulley assemblies to be described hereinafter.

To rigidify the construction, spacer and brace means may be employed, as shown in Figure 3. This means includes connecting bolts 40 extending across the chainbers 41, 43 respectively defined `at opposite sides of the window. The connecting bolts 40 extend through spacer sleeves 42.

Means is incorporated in the invention for supplying water to the window, and to this end there is a main water supply line or tube 44, extending within the building wall to a location immediately above the header 34. Tube 44, midway between the sides of the window, has a depending extension, with which branches 46 communicate, so thatvv three outlets of the water supply conduit are provided, said outlets being disposed below the header 34 at the top of the window and being spaced apart transversely of the window as shown to best -advantage in Figures 3 and 7.

The outlets of the main tube and branch Vtubes 44, 46 respectively are connected to a horizontally disposed manifold 48, extending transversely of the upper portion of the window and lformed at closely spaced intervals over its 'full length with depending nozzles or outlets 50. Referring now to Figure 2, in which the cross sectional shape of the manifold is shown to particular advantage, it will be seen that the manifold has a iirst row of nozzles 50 disposed at one side of the .plane of the window glass 52 that is to be cleaned. Another row of nozzles is disposted at the opposite side. The nozzles of each row are so angled as to direct water (and later, as will presently appear, iets of air) against the opposite faces of the window glass. p

Thus, water distributed through the manifold will be caused to flow onto both faces of the glass, at all locations over the full width of the glass. Said water will of courseV ow downwardly over the opposite faces ofthe glass. Therefore, the entire area of the glass will be swiftly and uniformly covered with cleaning water. v

Of course, it is desirable. to provide means for draining olf the water. To this end, a catch pan 54 is progressively reduced in a downward direction, to cause all Water owing thereinto to gravitate to a centrally disposed 4,1 f clamping brackets 98, 100 res ectively. These have openings receiving non-circular ends of wiping blade support outlet 56 of the catch pan, it being understood that a "drain pipe 57 connected to said outlet would lead the water Yto a suitable location of disposal thereof.v

At its top, the catch pan is flanged outwardly at opposite sides `as shown in Figure 2, with the flanges thereof being xedly secured Vto the underside of a support plate V58 slotted injregistration with the catchpan to receive Y the lower end of the window and secured within a large opening 59 :(Figure 3) formed in the sill 32. Referring to Figure 3, at one Vside of the window a drive motorV 60 is mounted upon a motor support ledge c 61 fixedly secured to an extending between member 30 andan adjacent Yvertical member 63, within the buildingV wall. K Connected to shaft 62 of the motor for rotation Vtherewith isa drive gear 64 in mesh (Figure 5)` with a smalldiameter spur gear y66 rotatable with and'driving the shaft of, a fan assembly generally designatedV 68' mounted (Figure 5 )l upon a fan assembly support bracket 69 secured to ledge 61. Y The output of the fan is directed into a small diameter tube 70 which extends, as shown in Figure 7, into one end of the conduit 48. It will be understood, in, this connection, that a flap valve diagrammatically shown at Y71, or equivalentcheck valve, would be provided where the tube 70 opens intoV the manifoldr48, said Yvalve open-V ing in a direction to permit `air to ow from tube 70 into the manifold, while'preventing'return ow. Said'V valve would normally close, so that when. Water is directed'into the manifold, lit would not ow toward `the fan through ,the tube'70, the valve shutting off communicationrbetween the tube and manifold at this time. VHowever,v whenV the fan is placedin operation, the pressure of air Within thetube 70 would shiftY the valve to open position, in which position it would remain as long as air is owing intoV the manifold. Air directed into the manifold would nd its outlet through nozzles 50thus directing Y jets or blasts of air against both faces of the window 'glass for thepurpose of drying off excess waterfollowing the application of waterV and the wiping of the same from the windowglass. Y if c Within ychamber y43, there are provided two vertically vversely spaced, parallel relationV as shown in Figure 4. One assembly includes an upper pulley 72, endless Vbelts 74 trained thereabout, and a lower pulley 76 about which vthe belt is also trained, the upper pulley being secured in confronting relation to the first assembly and includes lower pulley 88, belt 90, VVand'upper pulley Y92. Pulley 92 is secured to the motor shaft 62, whichras shown in Figure 2 extends'completely across the windowvandis member 28.Vv

Vextending belt and pulley assemblies, disposed in transf- :'journalled, in chamber 41, Yina bearing 93 mounted upon Y The other belt pulleyassembly Vint/:Indes 'Y lower pulleys -974 about which a Abelt 96 is trained, the Yupper pulley 94 being secured tothe shaft 82Vfor rotation therewith. .,Therefore, 'in Ytaper-,ation ofthe motor, all

'fourbeltandpulley assemblies will bedriven, ,simul Y l taneous'ly an'dinthe same direction. Y Y

Fixedly Seuled 9311? @$1742.34 ,(eefglfet) fa?? Aendless belts extend.

bars 102, 104 respectively, which bars may be iixedly engaged with the bracketsv by set screws of the clamps or by any equivalent means.

The bars 102, 104 extend fully across the window, and are engaged Within chamber 41 ixedly in clamps 98, 100 corresponding to the rst Ynamed clampsA 98, and mounted upon the belts 90, 96. Y

Referring to Figure 2, xedly secured to support bars 102, '1104' are elongated wiperblade clamp plates 106, 10S in which are 4clamped. correspondingly elongated rubber wiping bladesor squeegees 110, '112. Blades 110, 112 are so angled that when drawn along the opposite faces of the window pane, they Will be set obliquely to the plane of the glass with their glass-contacting, beveled edges being the trailing edges of the rblade and wiping `ott' the water from the faces of the glass. Y Y f It will be noted in Figure'Zthat the blades are oppositely angled. This is due to Ythe fact that the belts at each side of the window turn in opposite directions, due to the fact that the Arotational movement thereof is imparted by the oppositelyV rotating, meshing gears 64,v 80

shown in Figure 5.

To guide the wiping blade 4assemblies in their movement, rollers 114 are rotatably mounted upon the respective wiper blade supportY bars, and referring now to Figure 6, said rollers are rotatablyY engaged in endless trackways '116, 118 :formed inthe side jambs 36, 36, said trackways followingclosely ,the paths inwhichthe f In Figui-e2, it will be'seen that normally,rwhen'the vdevice is not in operation, all the portions or `components thereof mounted Vwithin the`top portion offthe window assembly are concealed from view, Yby `coplanar, hori- 'zontal closure plates '120 pivoted on pins 122 mounted in the respective side jambs. TheY plates swing through ninety degreesY between thefull Vancl dotted line positions shown'for the left hand plate 120 in Figure 2. When'in closed position, they abut opposite faces of the window glass,rwith theY glass 'projectingupwardly above the closure plates. j"

As will be'noted from Figures j8 and 9, theiplates will normally remain in their closed positions due to the fact that curved arms 124 .provided on the top surfaces of the plates will be engaged by the bars 102, 104.Y Arms 124 are of springable material, normally extending Vinto the path of the bars so that when the bars move into, en- 'gagement with the larms Y124, they will swing the closure plates upwardly from Athe full openY position shown in Figure 8, in the manner shown in Figure 9.

In ,other words, the bar 104 is travelingclockwise in Figures 8 and 9. As it travels clockwise, it of course moves the wiping blade overV the window,.to clean the window. Then, as it nears the end of its cycle, .it engages the arm 124 which is now posti'onedas in Figure 8. Further upward movementrof the bar 104 to the Figure9 position will begin to swing the closure plate upwardly. Finally, bar 104 reachesthe Figure 2 position,with a lug on said bar engaging the a-rm 124 to hold the closure plate in fully'closed position. On the next cycle of operation, bar 104 will startrmoving clockwiseY from'its FigureZ-position. Arm .124. will initiallyresistsaid movement, but will not have a spring tension strong enoughto prevent the bar `104vfrom beginning its-travel sothat bar 104 causes thearm 124 torbe temporarily tensioned,'until @the bar 104V disengages the arm.V VThe lbar 104 travels Vclockwise in the manner already described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. with closureplate 120 dropping` automatically to -itsopen position 'shown in vdotted lines for theyleft hand plate 120 in Figure Zfand inrfull lines in Figure8.' Hij.

When the closure plate swings to its full open position,

it isautomatically latched in open position by ay spring lfch 126 Figures flolnsasns Plate 1.20, at.; @eeh end thereof. Thetension of the latch is overcome by the plate gravitating to its open position to eiect the latching action. However, the tension of the latch is readily overcome when the plate is being swung upwardly to its full closed position by the bar 102 or 104, as the case may be.

Considering now the wiring of the device, reference should be had to Figures 3 and 13. Leads 128, 130 extend from "a suitable source of electric powensuch as an ordinary 110 volt A.C. supply. A switch 132 shown to particular advantage in Figure 13 is provided, and from'one terminal of said switch vextends a lead 134, connected as shown in Figure 13 to one terminal of motor 60. From the same terminal of motor 60 extends a lead 136, connectedto one contact or terminal 137 of a cut-od switch 138 mounted in the upper end of the chamber 43.

A lead 140 is connected, as for example by a jumper, to. a pivoted Vcontact blade 142V swingable under thev bias oan associated spring 143 to a position (see Figure 14) engaging contact 137. Bar 102 temporarily biases blade 142v to a contact-opening, Figure l3' positi`on as it passes bythe same. Y i

l"Lead 140 is connected to a xed contact 14S of switch 132. A manually depressible, spring-loaded push button 144 normally biased by its spring 146 to a position spacing'a contact 150 from Contact 148. A

lExtending from contact 148 is a lead 152 connecte to lead 128. Alead 154 extends from the other Vtermina ofmotor 154 to lead 130. l *A valve 156 for the water supply (see Figures 3 and 12) includes a plug 158 turnable between ow permitting and preventing positions by a handle160.

Operation On manual opening of valve 156, water underpressure flows throughspply tube"44, branches 46, and nozzles 50 onto both faces of pane 52, draining therefrom into catch pan 54. The valve is thenV manually closed when the window is sutliciently wetted. Y

vPush button 144 is now depressed and held down for a fewY moments. VCfur're'nt liiows through lead'128; lead 152; closed contacts 148, 150; lead 134;-mot0r 60; and return through leads 154 and 130.

The motor, driving lthe gears 64, 80, v66, now causes operation of the fan, and also initiates travel of the belts 74, 84, 90, and 96. Bar 102, travelling with belt 74, thus moves from its Figure 13 position. Contacts 142, 137 are therefore free to close, and do so as shown in Figure 14. Switch 138 thus closes almost immediately after depression of the push button. The operator therefore may now release the push button, since the circuit through the motor will remain closed. The current ow is now from lead 128; through lead 140; closed contacts 142, 137; lead 136; motor 60; lead 154; and return through lead 130.

As the motor continues operation, the wiping blades or squeegees 110, 112 are wiped across the opposite surfaces of the glass 52. Both blades travel downwardly during their wiping contact; then upwardly after moving laterally outwardly in opposite directions from the lower end of the glass (see Figure 2). The water is thus wiped off; meanwhile, to insure speedy removal of all the excess water, air is being blown downwardly by the fan onto both surfaces of the glass, emanating from the nozzles 51.

When the blades have made one full cycle, they are stopped in their initial position by engagement of bar 102 with blade 142. This swings blade 142 to its Figure 13 position, opening the circuit to the motor.

When the motor initially began operating, closure plates 120 were in their closed, Figure 2 positions. However, they were immediately disengaged from bars 102, 104 in the manner previously described herein, and dropped to open position before the wiper blade assemblies reached them during the downward movement of said assemblies.

"menthe bars 1oz, 104 engaged arms 124 of the new open closureV plates, while the bars'were moving upwardly and nearing their uppermost or rest positions shown in Figure ,2, Therefore. as the Wiper blade assembliesV moved above the closure Iplates 'at the `end of tlie cycle," they pulled the'closure plates upwardly behind them, to the normal, closed position of the closure plates.

' itis believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily conined to the specific Vuse or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited.n Nor is the yinvention to be necessarily limited tothe specic construction illustrated and de scribed,v since such construction is only intended to `be illustrative of the principles, it beingl considered-that the invention compehends' any minor change in constructionY that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.l 1" f 'Whatisdaimedis:l I f l. A cleaning device for a windowof the type including a frame structure and a window glass therein, com-2 prising: means adapted to -be mounted upon said'structurefor'diiecting'a cleaning duid againstA the opposite surfaces of said glass; means for directing air currentsv against said surfacesv following owing of the uid thereover; means adapted for mounting on said structure for wiping the duid vfrom said glass following direction of the uid against said surfaces, comprising a pair of beltand-pulley assemblies mountable on said structure at' each side of the glass, a wiping'blade carried by and extending between/corresponding assemblies across theY glass, means for drivingfthe several assemblies simultaneously,V said drive means including a drive motor and aggear train driven bysaidV motor and having a driving connection" with said assemblies; and closure-plates' mountable on said"structure at 'the topofY the -glass for' movement between openland closed positions, said plates normally concealing said wiping blades, 'saiduid-wipin-g meansV engaging'said closureY plates to shift the: same between open and closed positions.V i .'12. A cleaning device for afwindow of the type including a iframe structure and a window glass therein, cornprisingrmeans adapted to be mounted upon said structure 'for directing fa cleaning uid against the opposite surfaces ofv said `glass;means Vfor directing air currents against said surfaces following owing of theA fluid thereoverymeans adapted `for'imounting on said structure for wiping Ithe lluidl from'said glass following direction fof the .duid against said surfaces; comprising a pair of beltand-pulley assemblies 'mountable on said structure "at each side of the glass, a wiping blade carried by and extending between corresponding assemblies across the glass, means for driving the several assemblies simultaneously, said drive means including a drive motor and a gear train driven by said motor and having a driving connection with said assemblies; closure plates mountable on said structure at the top of the glass for movement between open and closed positions, said plates normally concealing said wiping blades, said duid-wiping means engaging said closure plates to shift the same between open and closed positions; and means on said iiuidwiping means for deenergizing the motor following operation of the belt-and-pulley assemblies through a full cycle.

3. A device for cleaning a window of the type including a frame and a window glass therein, comprising: pulleys adapted for mounting on the frame adjacent the top and bottom edges of the glass; a belt n'ained about the pulleys; means mountable in the frame for driving at least one of the pulleys; a wiper means carried by the belt and disposed for moving between the top and bottom of the glass in wiping contact therewith responsive to driving of said one pulley; switch means controlling operation of the drive means and engaged by the wiper means when the wiper means moves to the top of the glass, said switch means operating to deener-gize the drive means when engaged by the wiper means; and a 1 closurejplateA adapted tov be pivotally mounted 'onthe frame` adjacent` theY top edge `of. the glass for swinging movement to-and from a horizontal position underlying and concealing the lwiper means when the Iwiper means is disposed adjacent the top edge of the glass, said closure plate including a lateral projection positioned to be engaged by the wiper means as the Wiper means approaches its switch-operating position, said projection being adapted to be moved by the wiper means to and retained bythe wiper means'in a position in Which'the closure plate will beV disposed in said horizontal position thereof.

4. A device for cleaning a window of the type including a frame Vand a window glass therein, comprising:

pulleys adapted for mounting on the frame adjacent the top and bottom edges of the glass; a belt trained about the pulleys; means mountablein--the frame for drivingfat least oneof Vthe pulleys; a wiper means carried by the belt and disposed for movingbetween the top and Vbottom' ofY the glassv in wiping `contact therewith responsive to driving of said-one pulley; switch'means control-` ling operation of the drive means and engaged by the wiper means when the Wiper means moves-tothe top of the glass, said switch means operating to deenergize the drive means when engaged'bythcvwiper means; and a Vclosure plate adapted to'be pivotally mounted'on the frame adjacent the top edge of the glass for swinging movement to and from a horizontal position underlying and `concealing the wiper means 4when the wiper means is Ydisposed adjacent tbe-top edge of the glass, said closure 1 plate including -a lateral projection positioned tobe engaged by the Wiper means as the wiper means, approaches its switch-operating position, said projection being adaptedV to be moved by the Vwiper means to and retained by the wiper means inia position-in whichA the closureY plate will be Vdisposed in said horizontal position thereof, said projection extending obliquely to the path of' movement Y of the'wipermeans and being formed as fdownwardly opening, curved hook in Vthe open Vclosure plate position, the wiper means being formed to exert a-cam action on said hook tending to bias the samenthrough substantially 90 to'shift the closure plate to said horizontal position thereof, said hook remaining in engagement with the wiper means in the, switch-operating position of the wiper means ,toretain the closure plate in its horizontal position. Y

'5. A device yfor cleaning a window of the type including a frame and a Vwindow-glass therein, comprising:

pulleys adapted for mounting on the frame adjacent the top and bottomiedges ofthe glass; a belt'trained about the pulleys; means mountableY in the frame for driving at least one of the pulleys; a Wiper means carried by the belt and disposed for moving between the top and bottom of the glass in wipingV contact-therewith responsiveto driving-of said' one pulley; switch means controlling operation of the drive means and,` engaged by thel wiper means whenthe wiper means moves .to the top of the glass, Said; switch means operating to deenergize the` drive means when engaged byk the wiper means; and a closure plate adapted to bepivotally mounted Von the. Vframe adjacent the top edge of the glass for swinging movement to Vand from a horizontal position underlying and concealing the wiper means when the Wiper means is'disposed adjacent the top edge of the glass, said closure plate including a lateral projection positioned `to be engaged by the Wiper means as the wiper means approaches its switch-operating position, said projection being adapted to Ybe moved by the wiper means to and retained by the wiper means Vin a position in which the closure plate will be disposed in vsaid horizontal position thereof, said projection kextending obliquely to the path of movement of the wiper means and being formed as a kdownwardly opening, curved hook in 'the open closure plate position,

they wiper means being Aformed to exert a cam action on said hook tending to bias the Same through substantially to shift theclosure plate to said horizontal position thereof, said hook remainingin engagement -with the` wiper means in the switch-operatingrposition of the wiper means to retain the closure plate in'its horizontal `position, the closure plate being mounted for free-gravitationaljswinging movementto a lvertical open position on disengagement of the hook Vfrom the Wiper means.

References Cited in the'le of this'patent i I y. 

